Device for continuously loading strip-form material onto a conveyor belt of a dryer or the like

ABSTRACT

A device for continuously loading strip-form material onto a substantially horizontally disposed conveying surface of a dryer or the like comprises an upstanding chute having strip-form material deposited thereinto in overlapping longitudinally pleated layers, means forming an arcuately extending shaft receiving layers from the chute with opposite edges of the layers abutting radially spaced, arcuately shaped inner and outer wall portions defining the shaft, and transfer means directing layers of the strip-form material to a substantially horizontally disposed conveying surface. A drum or wheel member having a cylindrical peripheral surface forms the shaft inner wall and is rotated to impart a desired circumferential velocity thereto, and an arcuately extending run or path of a continuous conveyor belt forms the radially spaced outer wall and is driven in a manner to impart a circumferential velocity thereto in excess of that of the inner wall, thereby turning or flipping the overlapped layers of the strip-form material so that leading layers overlap or overlie adjacent trailing layers as the material is transferred onto the conveying surface.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Walter Munch Berliner-Strasse;'Wilhelm Bachmann, Friedhoisstrasse, both of, Germany [21] AppLNo.839,976

[22] Filed [45] Patented [73] Assignee July 8, 1969 Aug. 17, 1971Schilds Aktiengesellschaft Bad Ilersleld, Germany [32] Priority July 17,1968 [33] Germany [31] I1760902.8

[54] DEVICE FOR CONTINUOUSILY LOADING STRIP- FORM MATERIAL ONTO ACONVEYOR BELT OF 1,237,591 6/1960 France"; 1,008,331 10/1965G-reatBritain ABSTRACT: A device for continuously loading strip-formmaterial onto a substantially horizontally disposed conveying surface ofa dryer or the like comprises an upstanding chute having strip-formmaterial deposited thereinto in overlapping longitudinally pleatedlayers, means forming an arcuately extending shaft receiving layers fromthe chute with opposite edges of the layers abutting radially spaced,arcuately shaped inner and outer wall portions defining the shaft, andtransfer means directing layers of the strip-form material to asubstantially horizontally disposed conveying surface. A drum or wheelmember having a cylindrical peripheral surface forms the shaft innerwall and is rotated to impart a desired circumferential velocitythereto, and an arcuately extending run or path of a continuous conveyorbelt forms the radially spaced outer wall and is driven in a manner toimpart a circumferential velocity thereto in excess of that of the innerwall, thereby turning or flipping the overlapped layers of the stripformmaterial so that leading layers overlap or overlie adjacent trailinglayers as the material is transferred onto the conveying surface.

DEVICE FOR CONTINUOUSLY LOADING STRIP-FORM THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention generallyrelates to feeding devices for conveying systems, and more particularlyrefers to devices for feeding strip-form material onto substantiallyhorizontally disposed conveying surfaces of dryers or the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art Natural or synthetic fiber cables orstrip-form material is generally processed through drying equipmentincluding a substantially horizontally disposed conveying surfaceextending through. the apparatus for conveying the material past meansforcing air thereonto.

Heretofore, it has been common practice to deposit the strip-formmaterial in a fiat orientation longitudinally onto the conveyingsurface. In an attempt to improve utilization of the entire conveyingsurface, it has been suggested to deposit the strip of material onto theconveying surface in a series of overlapped layers extendingtransversely of the conveying surface.

With prior art devices for continuously loading the conveying surfacewith overlapping, transversely extending layers, removalof the layersfrom the conveying surface has proved difficult and oftentimes resultsin the strip material becoming tangled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION We have found that depositing layers of stripmaterial on a horizontal conveying surface so that leading layersoverlie or overlap adjacent trailing layers significantly facilitateseffortless and tangle-free removal of the strip from the conveyor.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a device forloading strip-form material onto a horizontal conveying surfacegenerally comprises means forming a substantially upstanding chutehaving a rectangular configuration in transverse cross section,material-feeding means depositing strip-form material into the cute in alongitudinally pleated manner providing a stack of overlapped layerswithin the chute, means forming an arcuately extending shaft receivinglayers of the strip material from the chute and having arcuate, radiallyspaced inner and outer wall portions, and transfer means conveyinglayers of the material onto the horizontal conveying surface.

One substantially upstanding wall of the chute, the outer wall portionof the arcuately extending shaft and the transfer means are defined by apath of travel of a continuous conveyor belt comprising a series ofarticulately joined, foraminous plate members trained around idlersdefining the belt path of travel. In particular, a vertical run of theconveyor cooperates with an adjustably mounted, vertically disposedplate to form the upstanding chute, and an arcuate run or path of theconveyor extending through an angle between 90 and 180 defines theouter, arcuate wall portion of the arcuately extending shaft. A drum orwheel member having a cylindrical peripheral surface radially inwardlyspaced ofthe arcuate conveyor belt run a distance substantially equal toa transverse width of the layers defines the inner wall of the arcuatelyextending shaft. The transfer means includes a rising run of theconveyor belt extending tangentially from the arcuate run and rising tothe horizontal conveying surface disposed at a level approximatelycoplanar with a longitudinal axis of the drum.

Suitable drive means rotate the drum in a manner to impart a desiredcircumferential velocity to the outer cylindrical surface thereof,whereas the continuous conveyor belt is propelled around its path in anopposite angular direction and in a manner to propel the continuous beltthrough the arcuate run at a circumferential velocity in excess of thatof the drum surface. Preferably, the inner and outer shaft wall portionsare moved at equal angular velocities, and due to the radial spacingtherebetween, the outer wall moves at a circumferential velocityslightly exceeding that of the inner wall.

As the overlapped layers extending transversely of the conveyor belt areadvanced through the arcuately extending shaft, leading ones of thelayers are turned in a manner so that they overlap or overlie adjacenttrailing layers as the strip is deposited on the horizontally extendingconveying surface. In that manner, each transversely extending layerdeposited on the horizontal conveying surface overlies adjacent trailinglayers, thereby permitting an initial layer and subsequent layers to belifted upwardly from the conveying surface without disturbing orinterfering with adjacent trailing layers. Thus, tangle-free removal ofthe strip material from the conveying surface is provided by theapparatus and method of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects, features and advantagesof the present invention will be readily apparent from the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawing, although variations and modifications may beeffected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novelconcepts of the disclosure or our contribution to the art, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic, side elevational view of aconveyor-loading device embodying features and principles of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device illustrated in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to' thedrawing, an apparatus 10 for continuously loading strip-form material 11onto a horizontally disposed conveying surface passing through a dryer12, or the like, comprises material feeding means generally indicated at13, a storage chute 12 receiving strip-form material from the feedingmeans, an arcuately extending shaft 16 and transfer means 17 directingthe strip-form material from the arcuate shaft to a horizontal conveyingsurface 18 entering the dryer 12.

The feed means 13 is characterized as comprising a substantiallyhorizontally disposed belt conveyor 21 trained around a head pulley 22and a return idler 23, a guide trough 24 and a wheeled carriage 26,supported on spaced rails 27, 27 and supporting a head end of theconveyor 21 and the guide trough 24. The strip-form material 1 1 isflatly deposited on an upper run of the belt conveyor 21 and fedlongitudinally therealong to the guide trough 24 having convergingsidewalls 28, 28 and a downwardly elongated backwall 29 directing thestrip-form material 11 into the storage chute 14.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the beltconveyor 21 including the pulley 22 and the idler 23 has a return endthereof mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis as at 31 anda head end thereof supported by the carriage 26 for pivotal movementabout a vertical axis as at 32 and lateral movement with the carriage ina horizontal plane. Also, drive means including a suita le motor 33oscillates the carriage 26 transversely of the storage chute 14, therebydepositing the strip-form material II in the storage cute in a series orstack of overlapping, longitudinally folded layers or pleats with eachlayer extending transversely of the storage chute 14. Each layer mayalso have longitudinally extending pleats formed therealong.

It is contemplated by the present invention that one wall of the chute14, one wall of the arcuately extending shaft 16, the transfer means 17and the horizontally disposed conveying surface 18 be defined by a pathof travel of a continuous conveyor belt 35 characterized as comprising amultiplicity of articulately joined, porous or perforate plate membersas at 36. The continuous belt 35 is trained around a driven head pulley(not shown) disposed at a discharge end of the dryer 12 and driven bysuitable motor means.

In order to form a moving wall portion as at 37 for the chute 14, thecontinuous belt 35 is trained around a lower pair of return idlers as at38 and an upper pair of return idlers as at 39, thereby defining adescending, vertically disposed run of the belt 35 forming the chutewall 37. A vertically disposed plate 41 is adjustably supported inspaced relationship to the conveyor run 37 to form a wall of the chute14 confronting the conveyor run 37. Desirably, the plate 41 is adjustedtoward and away from the conveyor run 37 to form the chute 14 with awidth substantially equal to a width of the strip 11, thereby to confinehe pleats or overlapping layers of the strip-form material into avertically extending stack.

Furthermore, in accordance with the principles of the present invention,a pair of axis-parallel, horizontally spaced idler pulleys or gears 43,43 train the continuous belt 35 into a concave arcuate run as at 44extending in the direction of belt travel from the vertical descendingrun 37. Each idler gear or pulley 43 is characterized as comprising aplurality of radially extending spokes mounting an inner series ofcircumferentially spaced, arcuately shaped plates 46 disposed at acommon radial distance from an axis 48 of the gears 43 and an outerseries of arcuately extending, circumferentially spaced plates 47disposed at common radial distances from the axis 48 slightly exceedingthat of the plates 46 and having circumferentially opposite end portionsoverlapping portions of the inner series of plates. The arcuately shapedplates 46 and 47 extend between the axially spaced pair of gears 43, 43and cooperate to form a drumlike member having a substantiallycylindrical peripheral surface radially spaced inwardly of the arcuateconveyor run 44, thereby forming the arcuately extending shaft 16 havingan outer wall defined by the arcuate conveyor run 44 and an inner wallradially inwardly spaced from the outer wall and defined by thecylindrical drum surface.

If desired, the arcuately shaped plates 46 and 47 may be mounted on thegear spokes in a manner to be radially adjustably therealong forpermitting adjustment of the radial spacing between outer and inner wallof the arcuately extending shaft 16. In that manner, the device may beadapted for accepting strip-form material having different transversewidths. Furthermore, the adjustable plate 41 forming one wall of thechute 14 is desirably adjusted to lie along a plane tangent to thecylindrical surface defined by the arcuately shaped plates 46 and 47.

The transfer means 17 is particularly characterized as comprising arising run as at 51 of the articulately jointed conveyor belt 35extending tangentially of the arcuate run 44 to a horizontal plane levelwith the axis 48 of the idler gears 43. The rising run or path 51 of theconveyor belt 35 is defined by a pair of axis-parallel, laterally spacedidler pulleys or gears 52, 52 having the conveyor belt trained thereoverand disposed to direct the conveyor belt along a substantiallyhorizontal plane level with the axis 48, thereby forming thehorizontally disposed conveying surface 18 entering the dryer 12.

In operation, the articulately jointed conveyor belt 35 is driven at amuch slower speed than that of the feed conveyor 21, for example atone-tenth the speed of the conveyor belt 21, and thus, the strip ofmaterial is removed from the vertically extending storage chute 14 at aslower rate than the same is delivered thereto. Also, the oscillatingmotion of the guide trough 24 transversely of the conveyor 35, and thustransversely of the chute l4 deposits the strip material 11 in thestorage chute in overlapping layers extending transversely of the chutewith each layer being somewhat longitudinally pleated. The belt conveyor35 is driven in a clockwise direction around its path of travel so thatan upper path thereof moves to the right as indicated by arrow 61, andthe drum formed by plates 46 and 47 rotates in a counterclockwisedirection as indicated by arrow 62.

Furthermore, since the belt 35 directly drives the gears 43 mounting theplates 46 and 47, the radially spaced inner and outer wall portionsdefining the arcuately extending shaft 16 move at equal angularvelocities and due to radial spacing therebetween, the outer wall movesat a greater circumferential velocity than that of the inner wall. Ifdesired, the drum formed by the arcuately shaped plates 46 and 47 may beseparately driven, but it is contemplated by the present invention thatthe outer wall of the arcuately extending shaft 16 travel at a greatercircumferential velocity than that of the inner wall. The differences incircumferential velocity between the outer and inner walls of thearcuately extending shaft 16 causes overlapping layers of the stripmaterial 11 to turn as the same pass through the shaft 16 from the chute14 to the rising transfer run 51. Thus, leading ones of the layers ofstrip material 11, which are overlapped by adjacent trailing edges inthe chute 14, are turned relative to the adjacent trailing layers sothat leading layers overlie or overlap trailing layers as the stripmaterial discharges from the arcuately extending shaft onto the risingtransfer run 51.

The layers are further laid back or spread apart as they travel up therising transfer run 51, over a blunt bend defined by the idler pulleysor gears 52 and onto the horizontal conveying surface 18. In order toproperly turn the overlapped layers in a manner contemplated by thepresent invention, and included angle between the descending conveyorrun 37 and the rising transfer run 51, and thus an angular extent of theshaft 16, should be greater than but not exceed If desired, the feedingmeans 13 may include a pair of guide troughs separately receiving stripsof material and arranged to interpleat or interleave two strips ofmaterial in transversely extending layers within the chute 14.

Although various minor modifications might be suggested by those versedin the art, it should be understood that we wish to embody within thescope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications asreasonably and properly come within the scope of our contribution to theart.

We claim as our invention:

1. A device for continuously loading strip-form material onto ahorizontally disposed conveying surface, comprising:

means forming a main continuous conveyor belt having a concave, arcuaterun;

means forming a rotatably disposed member overlying said arcuateconveyor run and having a substantially cylindrical peripheral surfaceconfronting, and radially inwardly spaced from, said arcuate run todefine an arcuately extending shaft having radially spaced inner andouter wall portions respectively defined by said outer cylindricalsurface and a confronting surface of said conveyor passing through saidarcuate run;

means for feeding and guiding at least one continuous strip of materialinto an inlet end of said arcuate shaft in overlapping layers extendingtransversely of said conveyor belt;

drive means rotating said cylindrical surface in one angular directionand propelling said continuous conveyor belt in an opposite angulardirection and at a velocity so that said conveyor moves through saidarcuate run at a circumferential velocity exceeding a circumferentialvelocity of said cylindrical surface for advancing overlapped layers ofthe strip of material through the arcuately extending shaft;

transfer means receiving layers of the strip material from said arcuateshaft and delivering the same "1 a substantially horizontally disposedconveying surface, whereby the material will be deposited onto thehorizontal conveying surface with leading ones of the layers overlappingdjacent trailing layers, thereby enabling tangle-free removal of thestrip material from the horizontal conveying surface.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, and further characterized by saiddrive means rotating said cylindrical surface at one angular velocityand propelling said conveyor so that said conveyor moves through saidarcuate run at an angular velocity equal to that of said rotating,cylindrical surface.

3. A device as defined in claim 1, and further characterized by saidfeeding and guiding means comprising:

a substantially horizontally disposed continuous belt conveyor having aninlet end and a discharge end for feeding strip-form material in a fiatdisposition longitudinally therealong from the inlet end to thedischarge end;

means mounting the inlet end of said conveyor for pivotal movement abouta vertically disposed axis;

means forming a guide trough receiving strip material from said feedingconveyor and directing the material downwardly toward said arcuatelyextending shaft;

means forming a carriage disposed for oscillatory movement transverselyof said main continuous conveyor belt and supporting said guide troughand the discharge end of said conveyor for movement therewith;

means forming an upstanding chute receiving strip material from saidguide trough and directing the same to said arcuately extending shaft;and

drive means oscillating said carriage transversely of said main conveyorbelt to deposit the strip material in said chute in overlapping layersextending transversely of said main conveyor belt.

4. A device as defined in claim 3, and further characterized by saidupstanding chute comprising:

a substantially vertical, descending run of said main conveyor beltextending from said guide trough to said arcuately extending run; and

a substantially vertically disposed plate member spaced from saidvertical run and disposed substantially tangentially of said rotatingcylindrical surface.

5. A device as defined in claim 1, and further characterized by saidtransfer means including a rising run of the main conveyor beltextending tangentially from said arcuately extending run and terminatingat a point substantially level with a longitudinal axis of saidcylindrical surface.

6. A device as defined in claim 1, and further characterized by saidarcuately extending run of said main conveyor having an angular extentgreater than but not exceeding 7. A device as defined in claim 1 andfurther characterized by said rotatably disposed member comprising:

a pair of axis-parallel, laterally spaced idlers engaging said mainconveyor belt in a manner to define said arcuately extending run; 1

an inner series of arcuately shaped sections extending between andmounted on, said pair of idlers and circumferentially spaced therearoundat common radial distances from an axis thereof; and

an outer series of arcuately shaped sections extending between, andmounted on, said pair of idlers and circumferentially spaced therearoundat slightly greater common radial distances than said inner series andhaving circumferentially opposite end portions overlapping end portionsof adjacent ones of said inner series of arcuately shaped sections.

8. A device as defined in claim 7 and further characterized by means foradjustably moving said inner series and said outer series of arcuatelyshaped sections radially of said idlers to vary a radial width of saidarcuately extending shaft.

1. A device for continuously loading strip-form material onto ahorizontally disposed conveying surface, comprising: means forming amain continuous conveyor belt having a concave, arcuate run; meansforming a rotatably disposed member overlying said arcuate conveyor runand having a substantially cylindrical peripheral surface confronting,and radially inwardly spaced from, said arcuate run to define anarcuately extending shaft having radially spaced inner and outer wallportions respectively defined by said outer cylindrical surface and aconfronting surface of said conveyor passing through said arcuate run;means for feeding and guiding at least one continuous strip of materialinto an inlet end of said arcuate shaft in overlapping layers extendingtransversely of said conveyor belt; drive means rotating saidcylindrical surface in one angular direction and propelling saidcontinuous conveyor belt in an opposite angular direction and at avelocity so that said conveyor moves through said arcuate run at acircumferential velocity exceeding a circumferential velocity of saidcylindrical surface for advancing overlapped layers of the strip ofmaterial through the arcuately extending shaft; transfer means receivinglayers of the strip material from said arcuate shaft and delivering thesame to a substantially horizontally disposed conveying surface, wherebythe material will be deposited onto the horizontal conveying surfacewith leading ones of the layers overlapping adjacent trailing layers,thereby enabling tangle-free removal of the strip material from thehorizontal conveying surface.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, andfurther characterized by said drive means rotating said cylindricalsurface at one angular velocity and propelling said conveyor so thatsaid conveyor moves through said arcuate run at an angular velocityequal to that of said rotating, cylindrical surface.
 3. A device asdefined in claim 1, and further characterized by said feeding andguiding means comprising: a substantially horizontally disposedcontinuous belt conveyor having an inlet end and a discharge end forfeeding strip-form material in a flat disposition longitudinallytherealong from the inlet end to the discharge end; means mounting theinlet end of said conveyor for pivotal movement about a verticallydisposed axis; means forming a guide trough receiving strip materialfrom said feeding conveyor and directing the material downwardly towardsaid arcuately extending shaft; means forming a carriage disposed foroscillatory movement transversely of said main continuous conveyor beltand supporting said guide trough and the discharge end of said conveyorfor movement therewith; means forming an upstanding chute receivingstrip material from said guide trough and directing the same to saidarcuately extending shaft; and drive means oscillating said carriagetransversely of said main conveyor belt to deposit the strip material insaid chute in overlapping layers extending transversely of said mainconveyor belt.
 4. A device as defined in claim 3, and furthercharacterized by said upstanding chute comprising: a substantiallyvertical, descending run of said main conveyor belt extending from saidguide trough to said arcuately extending run; and a substantiallyvertically disposed plate member spaced from said vertical run anddisposed substantially tangentially of said rotating cylindricalsurface.
 5. A device as defined in claim 1, and further characterized bysaid transfer means including a rising run of the main conveyor beltextending tangentially from said arcuately extending run and terminatingat a point substantially level with a longitudinal axis of saidcylindrical surface.
 6. A device as defined in claim 1, and furthercharacterized by said arcuately extending run of said main conveyorhaving an angular extent greater than 90* but not exceeding 180*.
 7. Adevice as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said rotatablydisposed member comprising: a pair of axis-parallel, laterally spacedidlers engaging said main conveyor belt in a manner to define saidarcuately extendinG run; an inner series of arcuately shaped sectionsextending between and mounted on, said pair of idlers andcircumferentially spaced therearound at common radial distances from anaxis thereof; and an outer series of arcuately shaped sections extendingbetween, and mounted on, said pair of idlers and circumferentiallyspaced therearound at slightly greater common radial distances than saidinner series and having circumferentially opposite end portionsoverlapping end portions of adjacent ones of said inner series ofarcuately shaped sections.
 8. A device as defined in claim 7 and furthercharacterized by means for adjustably moving said inner series and saidouter series of arcuately shaped sections radially of said idlers tovary a radial width of said arcuately extending shaft.